International Organizations and the Transformation of the Contemporary World

Review of Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World
Name
Institution
Due Date
Review of Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World
Akira Iriye is a respected historian whose works always seem to attract the attention of keen readers. In this particular book, Iriye takes his readers on a historical journey as he seeks to determine the evolution of international organizations from the nineteenth century with a special focus on the past 50 years. The book titled Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World was published in 2002. In the book, Iriye shares his belief of how international organizations (both non-governmental and governmental) have helped or contributed to the transformation of the contemporary world. One way that Iriye succeeds in this book is by maintaining consistency of purpose throughout the book. However, as indicated by Ikeshima (2006), the only problem with this book is that it is too short and thus “hindered the author from fully analyzing the multi-faceted role of these international organizations.” Regardless, Iriye did deliver a piece of writing that leaves readers with an understanding of the role of governmental and non-governmental international organizations play in global development.
While perusing history books, many will refer to the wars that were fought, while ignoring what Iriye believes paved the way for globalization and today’s networked world. As Ikenberry (2002) notes, “traditional accounts that give primacy to states, diplomacy, and war miss what Iriye argues is the most important force at work: the growth of networks of shared interests that cut across borders.” The above is indeed true as most accounts fail to notice or even give readers a perspective that showcases the preeminence of international organizations in the world today and before. It is true that the world was divided and that nations wanted to remain independent of their neighbor’s doctrines and inclinations. However, even though this was the case, no one can deny that in the midst of nations’ quest for pride, shared interests persisted. The war did persist but even in these wars, seeds of internationalism were already planted. Ikenberry (2002) notes that “the decades before 1914 did not just pave the “road to war” but saw the flowering of social and cultural internationalism, which in turn set the stage after 1919 for agreements in areas such as maritime safety, nature conservation, education exchange, and labor rights.” From 1939 to 1945, the world was involved in another war that further brought the world together instead of diving it into factions. The Cold War began in earnest after the Second World War, but even as this was happening, Iriye writes that international organizations seeking to bridge the gaps and enhance the spirit of a global community.
Iriye’s book is divided into only six chapters and one partly agrees with Ikeshima’s assertion that the book is too short to allow Iriye to deeply analyze the issue at hand. Chapter one of the book is titled The Origins of...